Two screaming children found locked in hot car at Walmart on 99-degree day, NY cops say
A man is accused of leaving two young children locked inside a hot car at Walmart while he went in the store with another child in New York, state police said.
Several people found the 2-year-old and 5-year-old girls crying and screaming in the vehicle in the parking lot of a Walmart in Oneonta, about a 80 mile drive southwest from Albany, on June 19, according to a news release issued June 27.
When a state trooper arrived at the store in response to a 911 call after 3 p.m. that day, she met witnesses who said they found the car’s “windows were up” when it was about 99 degrees outside, New York State Police said.
“The vehicle was running with barely any air-conditioning,” authorities said.
The trooper rescued the toddler, who was in a car seat, and the other girl from a booster seat in the front passenger seat, according to police.
The car belonged to a man who was found inside the Walmart with a 5-year-old boy, police said.
The 39-year-old resident, of Mount Upton, was arrested on a slew of charges, according to state police, who said authorities learned that “he was impaired.”
Information regarding his legal representation wasn’t immediately available June 28.
McClatchy News is not identifying the man to protect the identity of the children.
“The investigation indicated that (the man) was in Walmart for approximately 15 minutes before first responders arrived,” police said.
After the state trooper arrived at the Walmart, “good Samaritans” gave the two children water and placed cool towels on them, according to authorities.
All three children were taken to a nearby hospital after the man was located, police said.
According to police, the man is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and three counts of aggravated driving while impaired with child as passenger.
Following his arrest, he was taken to Otsego County Jail, police said.
This story was originally published June 28, 2024 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Two screaming children found locked in hot car at Walmart on 99-degree day, NY cops say."
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